After addressing D in draft, Flyers eye free agents, trades

Chicago Blackhawks' Viktor Stalberg of Sweden skates in the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Minnesota Wild Tuesday, April 9, 2013 in St. Paul. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)

McClatchy-Tribune

PHILADELPHIA - The Philadelphia Flyers, selecting defensemen with four of their six picks, prepared for the future at Sunday's NHL draft.

Now they turn their attention to the present.

Through free agency and perhaps a deal or two, the Flyers will try to improve a team that missed the playoffs for just the second time in the last 18 seasons.

Free agents can sign starting Friday, though they can talk with teams beginning Wednesday. Those who became free agents through compliance buyouts are already allowed to talk with teams.

A year ago, the Flyers struck out on marquee free agents Shea Weber, Ryan Suter and Zach Parise.

They are not pursuing anyone of that magnitude this year, but would be happy to sign someone who can compete with Steve Mason for the goalie job and some forwards who can improve their offense and provide some needed size and grit.

"We've already added a defenseman who we think will really add a lot," general manager Paul Holmgren said on Monday, referring to Mark Streit. "And moving forward, we need to look at the goaltending position, and strengthening our group of forwards."

Holmgren said he would like to add a "forward with size."

This isn't a dynamic free-agent class. One of the top prospective free agents, Chicago winger Bryan Bickell, is already off the market after signing a four-year, $16 million deal Sunday to return to the Blackhawks.

According to a league source, the Flyers have interest in one of Bickell's teammates, 6-3, 210-pound left winger Viktor Stalberg, who can become a free agent Friday.

Stalberg, 27, a Sweden native, had nine goals and 23 points in 47 games last season. He scored a career-high 22 goals the previous season.

Known for his speed, Stalberg had just three points - all assists - in 19 playoff games as the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup this year.

The Flyers are one of a dozen teams showing interest in center Vinny Lacavalier, 33, who was bought out of the remaining $32-plus million of his contract with Tampa Bay.

There are several other intriguing free agents that could interest the Flyers, including right winger Nathan Horton, a 6-2, 229-pound power forward who had 19 points for Boston in 22 playoff games this year, left winger David Clarkson, center/left winger Valtteri Filppula, left winger Ryane Clowe, and center Stephen Weiss. Former Flyers winger Jaromir Jagr, 41, is also available.

The list of goalies who are unrestricted free agents includes Ray Emery, Evgeni Nabokov, Tim Thomas, Jose Theodore and Dan Ellis. Holmgren said he is exploring the free-agent market and a possible trade (St. Louis' Jaroslav Halak?) in order to get a goalie to complement Mason.

The Flyers are unsure if they will bring back veteran left winger Simon Gagne. Gagne, 33, who had five goals and 11 points in 27 games with the Flyers last year. He is on the verge of becoming a free agent.

"We've had a couple of conversations with his agent, and we will continue to talk," Holmgren said. "We have interest in bringing him back but limited cap space."

The cap has dropped to $64.3 million this season, but teams can go over it by 10 percent in the summer. The Flyers have about $4.2 million of cap room, but it climbs to nearly $11 million with the added 10 percent cushion. Once the season starts, they will put Chris Pronger on the long-term injured list and get $4.9 million of cap relief.

The Flyers would free themselves of $4.5 million in cap space if they dealt defenseman Braydon Coburn, who is coming off a sub-par season that ended with a separated left shoulder.

Meanwhile, the Flyers have sent qualifying offers to four of their players who are restricted free agents: Erik Gustafsson, Oliver Lauridsen, Brandon Manning and the injured Eric Wellwood.

•Newbury acquired: On Monday, the Flyers traded defenseman Danny Syvret to the New York Rangers for Kris Newbury, a 5-foot-11, 205-pound center/left wing.

Newbury, 31, split time between the Rangers and their American Hockey League affiliate the last three seasons, playing in 24 games for the Rangers and collecting two assists and 68 penalty minutes. He has also played with Detroit and Toronto.